Satellite Successfully Launched From Santa Barbara County

Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 9:36am

A satellite which is expected to provide researchers with new information to help assess the state of the earth’s climate is now in orbit, after being successfully launched from the Central Coast this morning.

A Delta II rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base just before three this morning, carrying NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2.

The satellite will measure carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere.

The launch took place 24 hours after originally scheduled, after a launch pad issue resulted in a launch postponement yesterday.

Low clouds and fog obscured the launch in many coastal areas of Santa Barbara County, although only die hard space fans were up at the early morning hour to watch for it.

Link to video of launch: www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=8zrP96LQFZI